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J. L woon. TALKING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. I9I5. 1,304,233. Patented May 20,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

I. J. WOOD, TALKING MACHINL APFLICATON- FILED MAY 6. 1915.

Patented May 20, 1919.

Figa

mame momma. v l APPUCTON FILED MAY-Brli 1,304,233. vPatented May 20, 1919.

SHEETS'f-SHEET 3. 5

Inventor: /Jdmes J. Wood,

is l'Att ovneg.

J. J. WOOD. v TALKING MACHINE. APPLIcATIoN msn nun/6.1915.

1,304,233. Patented Mayeo, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Inventor: James J. Wood,

essa' avenants COPY marmi) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. WOOD, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

TALKING-MACHINE.

Appiication fue@ May s, 1915. serial No. 26,278.

To ZZ 'whom t may (foncer/n Be it known that I, JA uns J. lVoon, a citizen of ,the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, county of Allen, State of Indiana. have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Talking-Machines, of which the following is'a specication.

My invent-ion relates to talking machines or similar apparatus and is particularly applicable to talking machines of the disk type. It has for its object to provide a novel form of electric drive for such machines. My invention comprises a novel and simple apparatus, in which, first, the motor is directly connected -to the record carrying plate and drives the plate with constant angular velocity; second, the speed of the motor' is easily control-led; and third, the motor, after being started, may be stopped by manual means, by a. record stop, or after a definite number of revolutions of the motor. My invention, as comprised in the apparatus for driving the record carrying plate with constant angular velocity and for controlling the speed of the motor, forms the subject mattcr of a divisional application. S. N. 207,823, filed Dec. 19,1917.

The various features of novelty, which 'characterize my invention, are pointed out in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification. For a. better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in .Avhich Figure 1 is a sectional view of a talking machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of my motor drive: Fig. 3 is a. sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4- is an enlarged view of the speed controlling mechanism; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, in elevation, of the mechanism for starting and stopping the motor; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a detail: Figs. 7 and 8 are views of a detail, and Figs. 9 and 10 are plan views of the mechanism of Fig. 5. A

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have shown my -invention applied to a talking machine of the disk type having a cabinet 1, a horn Q, and a sound box arm 3 on which is mounted a sound box 4. The-sound box carries a stylus 5. A motor plate 6 is mounted in the cabinet These parts may be of any usual or iwell known construction. y

Supported from the moto-r plate 6 is an electric motor 7 having a Vertical shaft 8. A record carrying plate 9 is mounted on the shaft of the motor and carries a record 10, the grooves on which are engaged by the stylus 5. The speed and angular velocity of the motor-'are maintained constant by means of a centrifugal governor of novel design and y member of the governor on a universal joint, the pressure of the friction pads on the track may bev maintained constant, even though the shaft. of the motor is tilted so as to be at an angle to the vertical, the pressure also being maintained constant even though vthere are slight irregularities in the track. The speed of the motor is varied by means 0f a novel mechanism which operates to raise or lower the shaft of the motor and thus change the pressure. of the friction pads 12 on the track 11. The current to the motor is turned on and off by means of a. switch 1G of ordinary construction which may be operated into the on and off positions manually, andwhen in the on position, itl may also be operated into the ott position by means of a record stop 17, or after a definite number of revolutions of the motor by means of the novel mechanism hereinafter described.

The friction pads 12 are pivoted to the governor weights 13. which are retarded by springs 1S connected to an equalizing mem-` ber 19. shown in the form of a ring. The springs and equalizing member together with the universal joint support for the weights. give an absolutely uniform pressure on the friction pads, thereby producing constant. angular velocity under all conditions of operation.V The universal joint in the arrangement shown comprises gimbals mounted at right angles to each other.

The electric motor 7 is suspended from the motor plate 6 b v means of a bracket l0 fastened thereto by screws 21. T he motor is shown as a commutator motor of the series cial'requencies and voltages being practically constant. ln order to reduce vibration to a minimum and keep the bearings or' the motor in the bracket 20 properly lubricated 'for a considerable period of time, they are fitted with felt rubbers 23 set 120 degrees apart. These rubbers `23 take up automatically any looseness that/may be in the bearings tending to produce/noise due to excessive vibration. A little" oil basin 24 isprovided at the bottom ofthe bracket 20 to catch any drip that/ may occur.

'The shaft 8 of the motor is raised or lowered to vary the speed of the motor by means of a lever 25 which is operatively connected to the end of the motor shaft. rThis lever is rocked on its pivotlby a compound screw which engages one end of the lever 25 and which when turned inone direction, lowers the bearing and increases the speed, and when turned in the opposite direction raises the bearing to decrease the speed. The lever 25 is pivoted 'to the bracket 20. Between the end 26 of the lever and the shaft 8 is a ball @27 which acts as a ball thrust bearing therefor. The compound screw is constructed of three concentric parts one within theot'her. The first is a nethreaded screw l 28 for causing a small motion in the direction of its axis when a knob 29, ormedinte 'rally therewith, is turned to the right or lei-t. The second is a coarse threaded screw 30 which has a forked end 31 into which the flever 25 is fitted and which preventsfthe screw 30' from turning. This screw 30 travels rapidly for a slight motion of the knob 29 and presses on the end of the lever 25-to rock it on its pivot through the agency of the third screw, which is another fine threaded screw 32 of small diameter thread- .ed'into the coarse threaded screw and fitting loosely within the knob 29. This line threaded screw 32is used to adjust the position "of the lever 25 with reference to the 'l khob 29 so as to give the lever its initial adjustment. The motor plate 6 is provided with a dial 33 on which are marked certain speeds such as 76, 78 and 8 0 revolutions per minute. By moving the fine threaded screw, the lever 25 may be adjusted so as to give the exact speed marked on the dial 33 and to which a-pointer 34, carried loythe knob 29, points. After the initial adjustment has been made, the turning of the pointer 34 to any of the other speeds indicated on the dial will give the speed of the .motor in accordance with that indicated on the dial. 1

Lacasse The switch 16 is shown as being fastened to the under side of vthe motor plate 6 and the mechanism for operating it either manually, by the record stop, or after ya definite number of revolutions is best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, which are views of this mechanism with the motor plate out away. The switch is moved from the off position shown in Fig. 9 to the on position shown in Fig. 10 by a member 35 which engages a button 36 on one side of the switch and is rotated by means of a knob 37 to which the 'member 35 is rigidly connected. A spring actuated latch,

lever 38V is operatively connected' to the 'which when the knob 37 is turned in the opposite direction engages the end of the trip lever 43 so as to rotate 'it on its pivot and move the'y projection 42 out of engagement with the latch 41 on the latch lever, thereby permitting the latch lever to push the switch 16 to the oil position.- The record stop 17 is connectedv to the trip lever 43 but is movable relatively thereto by the application oi more force than that required to trip the trip lever. This connection is made by means of a friction plate 45. This record stop is adjusted so that it is yengaged by a member 4G carried by the sound box arm 3 l of the talking machine when the stylus 5 reaches substantially the last groove oif the record, moves the trip lever 43 out of engagement with the latch lever 38 andI thereby opens the switch 16. An adjustable stop 47 is provided Jfor the trip lever 43 for reducing the lost motion of the trip lever to a minimum and consequently the record stop can be set exactly to the place at which it is desired to stop the machine. The levers 38 and 43 are .preferably both actuated by a single spring 48 which is connected to the lever 38 at a distance from its pivot and' to the lever 43 close to its pivot, because the force required to be exerted b v the spring to retain Athe lever 43 in the latched position is small compared with the force required' the brake.

The apparatus for opening the switch'l iso r a certain number of revolutions of the motor operates on the trip lever 43 and comprises an arm 51 which is moved into engagei'nent with the trip lever- 43 so as to rease the latch lever 38 and open the switch 6, and an adjustable stop 52 for the arm l. fis will be seen from Figs. 6, 7 and 8, ie stop is mounted on a sleeve 53 which 'frictionally mounted in the motor plate -f and in which the knob 37 is loosely mount` This stop may be moved by means of a ointer mounted on the upper .portion of sleeve 53. The arm 51 is mechanically `'coni'iected to a worm wheel 55 which is ro-v ly mounted on theknob 37. This worm wheel is revolved 'by a worm t' rough lthe action ot a pawl 57 and a l ratchet wheel 58, which pawl is operated by an oscillating lever 59. The lever 59 derives its motionv from a wabble plate 60 mounted on the shaft 8, the wabble plate causing a small pin 6l to move up and down and rock the lever 59 to which the ratchet is pivoted.

'lhe motion of this ratchet mechanism is thereicre dependent upon the number of The ratchet is against the ratchet wheel by a spring ln order that the ratchet shall operate revolutions oi' the motor.

hele

silently, when dropping into a tooth it is cusioned by a telt rubber 63 which is also mon d on a spring 64. The arm 51 flies back to zero every time the switch 16 is operated, whether by h and or automatically.'

Vlhis is necessary in order that the record will run for at least the number of revolutions for which the arm 51 is set every time the motor is started, and thereby prevent the possibility of the motor stopping in the middle of a record. This is accomplished oy means `of a lever 65 having a forked end pivoted to the latch lever 38. When the lever 88 opens the switch and puts on the brake, forces this forked lever 65 forward and auton'iatically throws the worm out of gear. and the arm- 51 together with the worm wheel are rotated by a spring 67 until the arm 51 engages the stop 52. When this "forked lever is moved in the opposite direction by the latch lever being moved into its latcbed position, a spring 68 presses the worm into engagement with the worm Wheel. The arm 51 is shown as frictionally mounted on the worm wheel 55, so that in case it were moved into engagement with the trip lever i3 and the switch 16 failedto open the circuit oic the motor, the arm would rotate on the worm wheel and do no injury to the mechanisn'i. The pointer 54 moves Yover a plate 69 which may be graduated in number et revolutions, but since usually a talki machine runs at speeds which vary only ly a revolutions per minute, I have shown 'the platetlil graduated in minutes. i i his gradnation has beenmade on the basis of '"l revolutions 'per minute. which .is the normal speed of the particular talking machine illustrated. The records now being 'manufactured are otl such size that they run 'from three to ive minutes at normal speed, and I have arranged my timing apparatus sothat it may be adjusted to stop the motor after an interval up to six minutes, the platef-69 eing graduted from 3 to 6 minutes.

J'I desire it to be understood that my innected with said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, a record stop connected to said trip lever but movable relatively thereto by the applica! tion of more force than that required to trip said'trip lever, said record stop being adapted to be engaged so as to move said trip lever out of engagement with said latch lever whereupon said latch lever moves to yopen said switch, anda knob having a membei rotatable therewith and operatively connected to said switch *for closing it and a second member rotatable with said knob :for moving said trip lever so as to unlatch said latch lever and open said switch.

2. In a talking machine, a record carryin plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for said motor, a spring actuated latch lever operatively connected with said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, a record stop connected to said trip lever but movable relatively thereto by the application of more force than that required to trip said trip lever, said record stop being l adapted to be engaged so as to more said trip 3. In a talking machine, a record carry- 125 ing plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for said 1notor,

lpivoted latch lever operatively connected with saidswitch, 'a pivoted ytiip lever for holding said'latch'lever, a spring attached 130 at one end to said latch lever at a distance from its pivot and at the other end to said trip lever close to its pivot, a knob having a member rotatable therewith and operativel connected with said switch for closing it and a second member rotatable with said knob for moving said trip lever so as to unlatch said latch lever and open said switch, and a record stop connected to said trip lever but movable relatively thereto by the appli cation oi' more iorce than that required to trip said trip lever, said record stop being adapted to be engaged so as to move said trip lever out oi' engagement with said latch lever 1whereupon said latch lever moves to open said switch.

Ll. ln a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plate. an electric switch for said motor, a pivoted latch lever operatively connected with said switch, a pivoted trip lever for holding said latch lever, a spring attached at one end to said latch .lever at a distance from its pivot and at the other end to said trip lever close to its pivot, a knob having a member rotata ble 'therewith and operatively connected with said switch for closing it and a second member rotatable with said knob for movin g said trip lever so as to unlatch said latch lever and open said switch, a record stop connected to said trip lever but movable relatively thereto by the application of more force than that required to trip said trip lever, said record stop being adapted to Lbe engaged so as to move said trip lever out oi engagement With said latch lever whereupon said 'latch lever moves te open said switch, and a stop for said trip lever for limiting its movement after it becomes disengaged from said latch lever. i

5. ln a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for said motor, a spring actuated latch lever operatively connected with said sivitch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, manually operable means for closing said switch, an arm, an adjustable stop for said arm, and means for moving said arm into engagement with said trip lever and thereby move said' trip lever out of engagement with said latch lever, said means being actuated by the revolution of said motor.

6. ln a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plato, an electric switch for said motor, a spring actuated latch lever operatively connected With said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, manually operable means forclosing said switch, an arm, an adjustable stop for said arm, means for moving said arm into engagement with said trip lever and thereby7 move said trip lever out of engagement with said latch lever, said means being actuated by the revo plate, an electric switch for said motor, a

nec-nase lutions of said motor, and means for returnm ing said arm to its initial position after said trip lever has moved Oiitof engagement with said latch lever. Y

7. ln a talking machine, a record carrying '7c plate, an electric motor for-driving said plate, an electric switch for sapl motor, a spring actuated latch lever operatively conb nected with ,said switch, a spring actuated trip lever :tor holding said latclrlever, manually operable means for closing` said switch, an arm, an adjustable stop for said arm, a ratchet mechanism operated by the revolutions of said motor for rotating said arm into engagement Wim said trip lever and thereby move said trip lever out or engage ment with said latch lever, and means for? returning said arm to its initial position after said trip lever has moved out et engagement With said latch lever.

8. ln a talking machine, a resort carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for said motor, a spring` actuated latch lever operatively connected with said svitch, a sprinO` actuated so trip lever for holding said latch lever, nannally operable i'ueans for closing said switch, an arm., an adjustable stop tor said arm, a Worm Wheel mechanically connected to said arm, a worm normally in engagement with said worm wheel, a ratchet mechanism operated by the revolutions oif said motor for rotating said worm and thereby said arm into engagement with said trip lever, and means for returning said arm to its initial position after said trip lever has moved out of engagement With said latch lever.

9. ln .a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor Yfor drivin@ said l ,5 spring actuated latch lever operatively ccnnected With said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, manually operable means for closing said switffh, an arm, an adjustable stop 'For said arm, a. Worin Wheel n'iechanically connected to said llt) arm, a Worm normally in engagement with said worm Wheel, a ratchet mechanism operated by the revolutions of said motor for rotating said Worm and thereby said arm into engagement with said trip lever, and means for returning said arm to its initial position aftersaid trip lever has moved out of engagement with said latch lever comprising a lever connected with said latch lever for throwing said Worin out ot' mesh with said Worm Wheel anda spring tending. to rotate said arm and said Worm wheel to- Ward its initial position.

l0. In a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for said motor. a spring actuated latch lever operatively connected With said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, a 13e yto manuallv-'operable knob having a member rotatable therewith and operatively connected to saidswitch for closing it anda second member rotatable therewith for moving said trip lever so as to unlatch said latch lever and open said switch, an'arni, a worm wheel mechanically conne( ted to said arm,'said worm Wheel being mounted on saidkno'b but movable relatively thereto, an adjustable stop for said arm also mounted o'n said knob but movable relatively thereto, a wor-m normally inengagement with said wor-in wheel, a ratchet mechanism operated by the revolutions of said motor for rotating said; Worm and thereby said arm into engagement with said trip lever, and means for returning said arm to its initial position after said trip lever has moved out ol' engagement withI said latch lever.

ll., In a talking machine, a record cari-ving plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an elect-ric switch tor said motor, a spring actuated latch lever operatively conneet-ed with said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holdingsaid latch lever, a manually operable knob having a member rotatable therewith and operatively connected to said switch tor closing it and a second member rotatable therewith tor moving said trip lever so as to unlatch said latch lever and open said switch, an arm, a, worm wheel mechanically connected to said arm, said worm wheel being mounted on Said knob but movable relatively thereto, an adjustable stop :tor said arm also mounted on said Iknob but movable relativelyv thereto, a worm normally in engagement with said worm ."vheel, a ratchet mechanism operated by the revolutions of said motor for rotating said worm and thereby said arm into engagement with said trip lever, and means for returning said arm to its initial position .after said trip lever has moved out of engagement with said latch lever` comprising a .lever connected with said latch lever for throwing said worm out of mesh with said worm wheel and a spring tending to rotate said arm and worm wheel `toward its initial position.

12. .In a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for said motor, a

spring actuated latch lever operatively connected with said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, mannally operable means for closing said switch,

an arm, an adjustable stop for said arm, means for moving said arminto engagement with said trip lever and thereby move said trip lever out of engagement with said latch lever, said means being actuated by the revolution of said motor, and a brake mounted on said latch lever for engaging said record carrying plate when said trip lever moves out of engagement with said latch lever.

13. In a. talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch tor said motor,a spring actuated latch leveroperatively con nected with Said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, n'ianually operable means for closing said switch, all, arm, an adjustable stop for said firm, a ratchet mechanism operated by the revolutions of said motor for rotating said arm into engagen'ient with said trip lever 'and thereby move said trip lever out of engagement with said latch leverj` means for returnv ing said arm to its initial position after said trip lever has moved out of engagement with. said latchv lever, and a brake mounted on said latch lever for engaging said record carrying plate when said trip lever moves out of engagement with said latch lever.

14. In a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for said motor, a spring actuated latch lever operatively connected with said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, a manually operable knob having a member rotatable therewith yand operatively con'- neeted to said switch for closing it and a second member rotatable therewith for moving said trip lever so as to unlatch said latch lever and open said switch, an arm, a worm wheel mechanically connected to said arm, said worm wheel being mountedon said knob but movable relatively thereto, an adjustable stop for said arm also mounted on said knob but movable relatively thereto, a worm normally Iin engagement with said` worm wheel, a ratchet mechanism operated by the revolutions Of Said motor for rotating said worm and thereby saidvarm into en- 105 gagement with said trip lever, means for returning said arm to its initial position aft-er said trip lever has moved out oi engagement with said latch lever comprising a lever connected with said latch lever for 110 throwing said worm out of mesh with said worm wheel and a spring tendin .to rotate said arm and worm wheel towar its initial position, and a brake mounted on said latch lever for engaging said record carrying 115 plate when said trip lever moves out of engagement with said latch lever.

15. In a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motorvfor driving said plate, an electric switch for closing the mo- Y ingplate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for closing the motor circuit, a spring actuatedlatch lever operatively connected with said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, an arm, an adjustable stop for said arm, a ratchet mechanism. for rotating said arm into engagement with said trip lever and thereby move said trip lever out of engagement With said latch lever, a vvabble plate on the motor shaft, and an operative connection between said Waloble plate and said ratchet mechanism.

18. In a talking-machine, a record carry ing plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for closing the mo-l tor circuit, a Spring actuated latch lever operatively connected With said switch, a.

spring actuated trip lever for holding said latch lever, an arm, an adjustable stop for said arm, a ratchet mechanism for rotating said arm into engagement with said trip lever and thereby move said trip lever ont ot' engagement with said latch lever, a wahble i plate on the motor shaft, an operative connection between said vvabble plate and said ratchet mechanism, and means for returning said arm to its initial position after said trip lever has moved out of engagement with said latch lever.

19. In a talking machine, a record carrying plate, an electric motor for driving said plate, an electric switch for closing the inctor circuit, a spring actuated latch lever operatively connected With said switch, a spring actuated trip lever for holdingsaid latch lever, an arm, an 'adjustable stop for plate, an electric switch for closing the niotor circuit, a spring actuated latch lever operatively connected Wit-h said switch, a spring actuated trip lever'for holding said latch lever, an arm, an adjustable stop for said arm, a ratchet mechanism for rotating said arm into engagement with said trip lever and thereby move said trip lever out of engagement With said latch lever, a Wabble plate on the motor shaft, an oscillating lever operatively connected at one end with said vvabble plate and at the other end with said ratchet inechanismlf and means for returning said arin to its initial position after said trip lever has moved out of engagement with said latch lever.

ln Witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this lst day of May, i915.

Janes a. Woon; 

